Collapsible crate.



B. M. TOMBERLIN.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, lz. ma.

1,231,459. PatentedJune 26,1917.

mr Noam: ni-ns om, mmurno.. lumlamu. n. c.

coLLArsIBLE CRATE. p

To all 'whom it may concern.'

.Know all men that I, BAKER M. TOMBER- `LIN, a resident of thecity of SantaRosa,

I l countyl of Sonoma, State of, California,

United States, and residing at Number 309 D street, insaid city,lam the original inventor in the Improvement of Collapsible y Crates.

minimum amount of This invention relates toimprovements in the art of containers, and more particularly to such as are adapted for occupying a space while not in use, andto this end the object of the invention is the provision of `a crate. or container of maximumcapacity when unfolded or eX- a minimum space When collapsed Vor folded. n

A further objectuoftheinvention is the llocating of certain locking-elements and the proportioning of the parts vthereof relative to the roportionsof parts of the crate structure quentl'y or enabling the locking elements to lock all of the parts ofthe crate structure in yboth the., collapsed and unfolded positions.

`Withthese will in and. in part be stated, the invention comprises certain .novel constructions, combina-v tions `and arrangements; of `parts as subsespeciied and claimed. In t e] accompanying drawings,-

Figurel 's a view in side elevation ofv a structure embodying the features of the present invention. l

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section taken and further objects in view, as

on the plane indicated by line 242 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view `of the shown in their collapsed position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section illustrating one of the locking devices and its engaging parts with the parts unfolded.4 Fig. 5 `is a `fragmentary detail horizontal parts f section taken" onthe plane indicatedl byline 5.5 of Figi.

Fig. 6 is` a similar section taken on the plane indicated by line 6 6 of Fig. 1. l

v Fig-7` is a view similar to parts illustrated as collapsed. v

Figs. 8 vand 9 are detail, horizontaly sec tions taken respectively on the planes indicated by lines 8-8 andf9-9, of FigLl.

AReferring to the drawingsfby numerals,

l 1, 1` indicate the side plates, '2, 2`-the1pend part hereinafter become apparent` Fig. 4 'with thel plates, and 3,3 the-top and `bottomplates of a collapsible crate embodying the features of the present invention. are each bound byamarginal stiifening rod 4 inclosed along the upper and lower ed es 0f the respective plate by marginal rolls, the side and end plates being `formed with interlacingeyesz 5, 5 and 6, 6, connected by the rod 4, serving as a pintel so that the sides and ends are hinged together. Each ofthe plates 3 has its edges bound by a marginal stiilening rod 8` inclosed in a marginal roll formed of the `material of the edge portions ofthe respective `plate, 3, and

l "UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Speciation of Letters Patent. Patented une 265.1917. Appucation mea March 12, 191s. `serian No. 753,74s. y

.The side plates y the upper plate 3 is engaged by straps or leaves 9, v9, formin hinges, each beingV formed with an eye inclosing the adjacent portion of the marginal rod of the rear side l plateJI l, the bottom 3 being likewise provided with similar hingeleaves 9 each havindicated by the dot and dashline inFignl,

from which its relative roportionsy with respect to the location of the coperating parts of the locking elements, aswill bey hereinafter specified, are' made apparent.v`

The interior of the crate may be dividedr in any of numerous ways, and one desirable means of division 1s lndicated conslstlng of 3 are released and capable e the provision of inwardly extendingvertical i sleeves 10, 10. A partitionvplate 11 is disposed withinthe crate or containeriand is boundby a marginal rod 12 inclosed substantially throughout the edgesof the plate llfby marginal rolls formed of thej edge portions "of the plate, theplate being-formed with notches 13, l13, fat" appropriate points for accommodating the and the ro'd 12 being f disposed torextend through the several brackets so as to formA a loose hinge connection between the partition 11 and theside l t tion isfree' to slide laterally fora limitedv distance, `controlled bythe amount of .space sleeves '10,

plates* 1. Thusthe parti,-

inclosed by the several sleeves 10, and at the same time the partition v11 is free to swiu laterally in either direction as the mms 0 the crate are being collapsed into the position indicated in Fig. 3 during relativejpiyotal movement of the eyes 5 and '6.

It is to be noted that the inventimi is `essentially adapted for use of metallic sheets or sheets of other suitable material, the showing in the drawing 'being obviously disproportionate as to the thickne of the sheets in order to enable eliective disclosure of thestructure of y the parts, the actual metal sheets `being o'f course, so thin as to be didicult lto illustrate in cross section.

A pair of locking velements is pre'erably pro-vided for each plate 1 and disposed lto engage the respective plate 3 when the parts are-expanded or `unfolded and toengage the edges of both side platesand lock all parts together when collapsed. While I have Ireferr-ed to and illustrated a pair of such locks for each plate 1 and this number is preferred, it is obvious that a single look may be employed yor a greater number than two utilized when desired, and since'each of the locks is an enact duplicate of all theothers, one only will be described, and the description and Vreference numerals 'will apply equally to all. y

Fixed to the respective plate 1 atthe inner face thereof isa spring hook 14 having its free Vend extended outwardly through an aperture 15 lformed in the ate 1, Aand the said lhook is adapted to interlock with an inwardly `turned 'hook 15 extending from the ifree end of a slide lor bolt 17, the lsaid bolt being sldingly mounted, sustained and guided by a bracket 18 fixed to the bolt `17 and extending transversely-thereof and havingterminalportions lying 'within Vthe respective :plate 2, the zrbolt being arranged on the outside thereof and the bracket -18`being accommodated lbyayertical -slot 19 formed in the respective plate. rIlhe upper end of bolt vor slide 1-7 or end opposite that provided `with hook 16 terminatos vin an eye QOentending between a pair of eyes -21 formed by the bifurcation of a hook member 22, the hook of `which is `disposed and proportioned -`to extend lleeyond and across the -adjacentiedge dportimfs ofthe respective plates 1 and 3 an into an aperture 23 vinthe respective plate v3 ior looking the partstogether intheir unfolded position, the sai-d hook being also dimensioned to inclose the marginal portions of both of the side plates and ithe engaged portion of the respective plate 3 when the parts are collapsed, as indicated in Fig. 7. The slide-or bolt 17 is of a llength proportioned and location selected 'for `causing the aperture 23 of the respective plate 3, "when disposed in its vertical position, to registerwith the corresponding aperture 15 andfthusenablelthe hook 16 to overlie and engage the respective portion of ,the given plate 3 when the parts m cellapsed as indicated 'in Fig. 7..

1n operation, the parts being in the position indicated .1.11 Figs- 1 and 4, if it iS devthe .hooks BQ :leave their engagement with apertures 23 and then to swing the hooks 22 outwardly as indicated in dotted Klines in Fig. 4. `top Ican then be swung upon Vits hinges 9 to its'vertical pendent po- Sition land access reely had to the interior of the To close the crate again it is only necessary to swing the plate 3 back to itsclosed position and then press the slides or bolts 17 manually downwardly until the hooks 16 and 14 rengage, and thereupon tlhe partsare intheir closed and lowered position. It is to 1#he noted that the downward mewement of the slides 17 is -madeeasy by the ridingof the curved portion o f hook 16 over the corresponding portion of 'hook 14, it being obseiwed, of f course, that the engagementmnd release of the hooks 16 and 14 is accomplished by the springing of the material of hdlts vor slides '17. When it is ydesired to Ycollapse or yfold the crate the -top plete is swun to ent position and bottom plate swung to its -vertieal upstanding by an identical operation, inversel applied, as that just described, :and then 4'the `sides =1 are -given fa diagonal collapsing movement until they approach each-other as Inearly as possible with the partition 11 intervening, whereupon the parts will 'be substantially in the position indicated 'in Fig. 3. Care is exercised to see that the plates 3 are located as near theisides y1 as .possible `with thefapertures Q8 registering with apertures 15, and then thefsides 7 4are slid back to establish locking position, whereupon the hooks 1-6 othe slides 'wiil springover the upperheade is position hooks 14 sothat the plates d are e ectively locked in position. The (particular hooksZQ which aredisposed substantially centrally of the collapsed mass are at the same time brought over the eont=iguous edges of the paltstothelposition indicated in Fig. 7, and the said Yedges are thus olectively locked against separation so that the collapsed condition isfmaintaineduntilit is desired to restore 1the vunfolded or expanded position,

when it 'is necessary tosprmgthe hooks 16 outwardly and move the same upwardly lfor enabling release of the parts which are restorcdfto'their iunfoldedposition yby a reverse movementto that last-described.

What I claim-is:-

1. The combination with a containerlhavits vertical pendedgesoflthe plates `and againen age the together, thetop wall being free to swing togetherthe top wall `being free to swing upon its hinge,of` a plate 'slidingly engaging one of the side walls and having ahook at its upper endadapted to engage the top wall and having a hookr at its lower end, andl a spring hook fixed `to the side wall adjafl cent to and' adapted to `interlockwith the hook of the lower end of the sliding plate.

`2. The combination with a container having side,$end, top and bottom walls hinged upon its hinge, of a plate slidingly engaging one of the side walls and having a hook at` its upper end'adapted `to engage the top wall, and having a hook at'its lower end,

the side wall being formed with an aperture"4 `in which the last named hook is adapted to "extend, `and a spring hook fixed to thein side of said side wall and disposed to extend jand from a position locking-x the top and' j`"" bottom plates in their unfolded position for `locking the samein their folded position.

into the aperture for interlocking with the hook at the lower end of the sliding plate.

' 3. The combination with a container hav-k ing side, end, top and bottom walls hinged together, the top wall being free to swing upon its hinge, of a plateslidingly engaging one of the side walls, the side wall thus eni gaged being formed with a vertical slot, a

`tra

retaining plate fixed to the sliding plate and extending through the slot and lapping the inner face of the side wall, said sliding plate having hooks at its ends, one adapted to engage and lock the top wall from swinging,

i and a spring hook carried by the sliding plate and disposed to engage the other hook of the sliding plate.

4. In a folding crate, the combination of a collapsiblel structure having side plates, hinged top and bottom plates, the top plate being hinged at the opposite side of the structure from the bottom plate, and locking means carried by each of the side plates proportioned for engaging and locking the top and bottom plates in position with the structure unfolded, the top and bottom plates being dimensioned and located for swinging on their hinged connections to ay folded position contiguous to the-respective locking elements, the said locking elements being adaptedtoengage and lock the top and bottom plates in their folded positions.

5. Ina folding crate, the combination with a collapsible structure comprising side vand end plates hinged together, a top plate' hinged to the upper edge of one of theside plates, a bottom plate hinged to the lower edge of the other side plate, each of the top andv bottom plates being hinged to swing from a horizontal to vertical position, and locking ymeans fixed lto the last mentioned side plate adjacent its upper edge and'similar locking means fixed to the other side plate adjacent its lower edge, eaehof the top and bottom plates being proportioned for extending, when in their vertical posiing side, end, top. and bottom walls lhinged tions, to thev locking means of the krespective kside plate to which the top orbottom plate is hinged, and the locking .means being vadapted to lock the last mentioned plates in both their vertical and horizontalpositions.r

G. In a folding`crate, the-combination of side and end plates hinged together, a top plate hinged to one of the side plates and adapted, when in its unfolded position, to engage the other side plate and the end lapse, a similarly disposed bottom plate to enable said plates to be swung from a position engaging the-side and end plates to a vertical position for enabling collapse of the side and end plates with respect to each other, and ashiftable lockcarried-by each of the side plates adapted to be shifted lto plates -forretaining the samer against col# hinged to the other sideplate,the hinges fof the top and bottom plates being constructed u 7. In a folding crate, the combination of 1 A side and end plates hinged together, atop plate hinged to one of the side plates and 'l adapted, when in its unfolded position, to

engage the other side plate andy the end plates for retaining the same against collapse, a similarly disposed bottom plate hinged to the other side plate, the hinges of the top and bottom plates being constructedy to enable said plates to be swung from a position engaging the side and end plates f to a vertical position forenabling collapse of the side and `end plates with respect to each other, and a shiftable lock carriedby each of the side plateaadaptedto be shifted to and from a position ylocking the top and bottom plates in their unfolded position for locking` the same in their folded position,

lock the vparts respectively in their" foldedy and unfolded conditions. e l

9. Ina folding crate, the combination of a collapsible container having side plates and top and bottom plates, one of theflatter plates being hinged to each of the former,

and the hinged connection beingsuch as to enable such top and bottom plates' to swing les from .a horizontal or open position to a ver"- ,l

tical orl closed position, each of the top'and bottom plates being formed witha lock receivmg aperture, a llock carried by one of the side plates and havinga hook adapted t y to engage the aperture of the platev hinged to the other side plate, 'and a similarV lock carried bythe last mentioned side plate, and having a hook adapted to engage the notch of the plate hinged to the first side plate, each of said looks having a hook disposed to engage -the aperture of the respective top or bottom plate hinged to its engaged side plate, when the top and bottom plates are disposed in their vertical positions.

10. In a folding crate, the .combination of hinged side and end plates, a top plate hinged to one of the side plates, and adapted to swing from an open horizontal position to a collapsed vertical position, a similar bottom plate hinged .-to the other side plate, a sliding bolt carried by each side plate and having a hook at its outer end and a hook at its inner end, the hook at the outer end being adapted .to engage and retain the respective top or bottom plate when the latter is in its open positiomand the hook at the inner end adapted to enga-ge and retain the relatively opposite top or bottom plate when the latter plates are in their lfolded positions, the outer hooks of the locking bolts in the last named instance, being adapted to engage and lock the side plates in a collapsed position.

11. In a folding crate, the combination of a collapsible container, slidingly mounted mamas bolts carried thereby, and hooks hinged on the ends of the bolts and adapted to engage and lock the parts respectively in their folded and unfolded conditions.

12. In a folding crate, the combination of side and end plates hinged together, a bottom plate hinged to one `of the sides and adapted to swing'. .from a horizontal unfolded osition to a vertical folded position, a top pFate similarly constructed and hinged to theother side plate, a sliding locking bolt engaging the upper portion of the side plate to which the bottom plate is hinged, a similar locking bolt slidingly carried by the other `portion of the other side plate, each locking bolt being formed at its outer end with a hook adapted to engage the respective top or bottom plate in its unfolded position, and each locking bolt being provided with an inner end portion adapted to engage and lock the respective top or bottom plate in its folded position.

Dated, San Francisco, California, March BAKER M. TOMBERLIN. Witnesses:

GEO. F. Coser, C. R. HABMON.

copies o! patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing dormnissioner of Patents, Washinton, D-Gf 

